Shingle



June 6, 1939. E. E. VENRICK SHINGLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1936 June 6, 1939. v E E VENRICK 2,161,440

SHINGLE Filed Feb. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES SHINGLE Emmett E. Venrick, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to American Asphalt Roof Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 21, 1936, Serial No. 65,043

Claims. (01. 108-7) The invention relates to improvements in shingles for roofing buildings, homes and the like, and particularly to an improved fabricated shingle strip consisting of a base of fibrous mate- 5 rial to which asphalt or similar plastic material is applied and which is surfaced with comminuted or granular material.

The type of shingles above described is well known and their durability and performance in withstanding the ravages of the weather has been satisfactory. However, the shingles are of uniform thickness and therefore lie flat on thereof and give 'an ordinary fiat and unsubstantial appearance to the roof as a whole. Another 0bjection to felt base shingles in general is that water and moisture will seap under the shingles when in overlapped relation on the roof, and also that the butt ends are readily lifted up by the wind, permitting rain and moisture to be blown under the shingles, causing rapid deterioration of the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a roofing shingle of the type describedwhich will improve the appearance of a roof composed of said shingles by giving the same depth and character,

and which will extend the life of the roof by preventing the seepage of rain and moisture under the shingle. A more specific object of the invention is to provide a shingle having a raised median portion extending longitudinally thereof for supporting the butt end of the overlapping shingle of the next horizontal course. The effect of the improved shingle is to give a semblance of thick- 1165s to the butt ends of the shingles comprising a roof, resulting in a better shadow line, and the roof as a whole has a heavy substantial appearance and. other desirable characteristics which are not secured by the ordinary felt base shingles.

Another object is to provide a .felt base shingle having a reinforcing strip strengthening the upper ends of the openings between tabs to reduce the tendency of the shingle to tear at the upper ends of said openings and which strip will further provide a reinforced area for nailing the shingle to the roof.

Another object is to provide a felt base shingle that will improve the appearance of a roof composed of the shingles and which will also prevent water and moisture from seeping or working its way up between the shingles when in overlapping relation.

With these and various other objects in view,

the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference char- 5 acters are used to designate like parts Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a strip shingle embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the manner of laying the present shingles in 10 overlapping relation on a roof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1 and 15 showing the relative thickness of the raised fibrous strip;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar'to Figure 4.but showing a raised strip composed of alternate layers of granules and asphalt; 20

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a different type of felt base shingle embodying the invention;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view on line '|--1 of Figure 6, showing a raised median strip substantially rectangular in cross section; 25 Figure 8 is a top plan view of a square tab shingle embodying a modification of the invention;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view substantially along line 9-9 of Figure 8 3 Figure 10 is a top plan view of a hexagonal tab shingle embodying a modification of the invention;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional viewsubstantially along line l|--Il of Figure 10; 35

Figure 12 is a top plan view of still another type of shingle embodying a modification of the invention;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line l3-l3 of Figure 12; and 40 Figure 14 is a sectional view showing the manner of laying the shingles of Figure 12 in overlapping relation on a roof.

Referring to the drawings, the roofing unit selected for illustration in Figures 1 and 2 com- 45 prises a shingle strip I0 having square tabs II. The shingle consists of a felt base I! which may be formed from rag, asbestos or the like, that has been saturated and coated with asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules l3 such as crushed 5 slate, tile or natural stone. The material leaves the roofing machine in a continuous length, hav. ing been saturated and surfaced by said machine,

as above described, and notched at intervals forming the openings l4. The material is then 55 severed longitudinally and is cut into the length desired for the strip shingles.

Shingles of the type above described are of uniform thickness throughout and when laid on a roof gives an ordinary flat and unsubstantial appearance although the shingle itself is very satisfactory in durability and performance in withstanding the ravages of the weather. As an improvement to felt base shingles in general, to overcome the objection to the flat appearance of the roof composed of said shingles, the invention provides a raised median strip l5, Figure 1, which extends longitudinally of the shingle in the vicinity of the upper ends l6 of the openings I 4. More particularly the raised strip l5 protrudes from the upper surface and is located with respect to a line connecting the upper end of the opening so that about one-half of the width of the strip is on one side of said line and one-half on the other side. Thus, referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the distance A is substantially equal to B. The upper ends [6 of the openings are effectively strengthened and reinforced so as to prevent tearing of the shingle at these points. The tabs H of the shingle are also strengthened and given added rigidity by reason of the fact that the raised strip l5 extends across the upper section of the tab. In a shingle where the width C is approximately twelve inches the width of the strip, or D, may vary from one and one-half inches to six inches.

The strip l5 may be applied to the shingle during manufacture and before the upper surface is coated with the granules 13, but it is preferable to apply the strip I5 to the shingle after manufacture and thus said strip will be suitably cemented to the granule surfacing l3. Also the raised portion may comprise a layer of fibrous material 18, Figure 4, thathas been impregnated with a water-proof solution such as asphalt or other plastic compoundand the surface of said layer may be left plain or covered with granules, depending on the character of roof desired. For certain installations it may be desirable to form the raised strip E5 of metal which would have the effect of weighting the shingle and giving maximum strength andrigidity thereto along a longitudinal median line. Said raised strip may be formed entirely of crushed rock orroof coatings or may consist of alternate layers of crushed rock, slate or granules and asphalt. A shingle having a raised median portion of alternate layers of granules 20 and asphalt 2| is shown in Figure 5, which further differs from the structure of Figure 4 in that the raised portion is substantially twice the thickness of the baseT f the shingle, whereas, in Figure 4 the raised fibrous portion is about one and one-half times the thickness of the base. These proportions are to be considered as illustrative only as the thickness of the median strip may vary, depending on the size of the shingle and the duty to be performed by the same.

The improved shingle of the invention is laid in the usual manner as will be evident from an inspection of Figure 3, wherein the shingles of an upper horizontal course overlap the shingles of a lower horizontal course to expose the tabs of said last mentioned shingles. The tabs of the shingles are in all cases coated with mineral granules to provide a grit surfacing which protects said exposed portion from erosion, giving long life to the resulting roof. The butt edges of the overlapping shingles are aligned with the upper ends I8 of the openings between tabs of the underlying shingles and accordingly the butt edges of the tabs are supported by the raised strip l5 of the underlying shingles. As more particularly shown in Figure 3, the ends 22 of the tabs coincide with the longitudinal center line of the strip l5. As each horizontal course is laid in overlapping relation with an underlying course the shingles are nailed in a plurality of places and preferably immediately above the upper ends I6 of the openings.

In Figure 1 the shingle is shown as provided with nail openings 23 which may be preformed in those cases where the raised portion I5 is composed of a relatively hard material, which would render it difficult to drive the roofing nail through the same. The effect of the raised portion is to give greater nailing strength to the shingle. Therefore, the shingle will not readily tear at the nail holes and it is also difficult to tear the shingle at the upper end of the openings between tabs, all by reason of the strength and rigidity resulting from the added thickness of the raised strip.-

The tabs ll of the present shingle are not so easily lifted by the wind to permit the entrance of moisture between shingles as the tabs have increased rigidity due to the raised portion l5. Thus the shingles of the invention are better able to withstand storms, windy weather and other adverse climatic conditions and therefore have a longer life. Neither will moisture seep or work its way up between shingles since the raised portion l5 acts as a barrier.

In the modification of Figures 6 and '7, which show a strip shingle 30 having hexagonal tabs 3! and coated with granules 33 the raised strip 35 is provided with a substantially flatupper surface, whereas, with the preferred modification said raised strip has an arcuate or slightly rounded surface. It will be appreciated that the raised median strip may also taper in both directions from a maximum thickness substantially coinciding with a line, connecting the upper ends of the openings between tabs. The invention contemplates all cross-sectional shapes and likewise the raised portion 35 may be formed of felt, metal, or alternate layers of granules or asphalt as described. Also in this modification the raised strip is positioned so that the distance A is about two-., thirds the width of the strip and the distance B is about one-third. V

The appearance of the resulting roof is materially altered by the raised portion since in all cases a better shadow line is produced which gives the semblance of thickness to the butt edges of the shingle comprising the roof. The effect on the roof as a whole is togive the same a substantial appearance and which will be characterized by individuality and distinctiveness.

In the modifications shown in Figures 8, '10 and 12 the raised median strip is located on the undersurface of the shingle. Figure 8 shows a shingle strip 40 of the square tab type, saidtabs being indicated by numeral 4 i The shingle consists of a felt base 42 formed from rag, asbestos or the like, impregnated with a water-proofing solution and which is coated with a grit surfacing on the upper side thereof by the granules 43. The openings between tabs are indicated by numeral 44 and the raised median strip by numeral 45. Said strip may be an integral part of the shingle or, as described with respect to Figuresasphalt and granules, or layers of roofing tape 75 suitably bonded together. Likewise the strip 45 is located centrally of the shingle and extends longitudinally thereof, being disposed with respect to the upper ends 45 of the openings between tabs so as to reinforce this section of theshingle and at the same time strengthen the tabs. This added rigidity given to the tabs makes them lie flat and resists the action of the wind tending to lift them up.

The shingle 50 of Figure 10 is the hexagonal tab type having tabs In other respects this shingle is the same as that described in Figure 8, having the raised median strip 55 on the undersurface thereof and extending longitudinally of the shingle for the purposes described.

The strip shingle 60 of Figure 12 has tab defining portions 6l which in conjunction with the colored lines 62, running transversely of the shingle strip, simulate individual shingles. The granules 63 are applied to the upper surface of the same and the lines 62 may be painted or the material comprising said lines may consist of granules of a darker color. Also with respect to this shingle, the raised median strip 65 is applied to the undersurface thereof and as previously described said strip extends longitudinally of the shingle and accordingly reinforces'and strengthens the same. The strip 65 is considerably wider than the strips applied to the shingles of Figures 8 and 10 and the disclosure has been varied in this manner in order to indicate that the particular width of the strips is not definite but may to a maximum of around six inches. Also the thickness of the median strips 45, 5'5 and. 65 will vary, depending on the size of the shingle and the duty to be performed by thesame. In all instances said strip should have a thickness to give the required rigidity to the shingle. The strips 45, 55 and 65 will be disposed substantially centrally of the transverse dimension. of the shingle and with respect to the upper end of the openings between tabs so that. the shingle will effectively resist tearing inwardly froni'the openings. The distance A may approximate twothirds of the width of the strip and the distance B one-third.

The shingles are laid in the usual manner with the horizontal courses in overlapping relation with an underlying course as shownin Figure 14.

The shingles are nailed preferably about one inch above the upper ends of the tab defining openings and where the raised median strip is composed of a hard durable material the nail openings may be preformed as indicated by numeral 41, Figure 8.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A roofing shingle adapted to be laid in courses in overlapping relation, said shingle having cut-out portions on the exposed butt end forming a plurality of tabs, at grit surfacing of mineral granules on the upper face of the tabs, and a raised longitudinal strip disposed centrally of the width of the shingle and extending the length thereof, said strip being adhesively secured to the shingle along its entire length and having a thickness to materially increase the thickness of the shingle along said strip, the central disposition of said strip having the effect of increasing the strength and rigidity of the shingle thereof to form a plurality of tabs, a grit surfacing formed by mineral granules on the upper face of said tabs, and a strip composed of fibrous material extending the length of the shingle, said strip being cemented to the shingle along its entire length and being disposed centrally of the width of the shingle which thereby locates the strip approximately centrally with respect to the upper end of the cut-outs, whereby said strip increases the rigidity of the longitudinal central section of the shingle and also the upper portion of the tabs, and whereby said shingle is reinforced and strengthened against tearing at the upper end of the cut-outs forming the tabs.

3. A roofing shingle comprising a fibrous base impregnated with a water-proofing solution and adapted to be laid in courses in overlapping relation, said shingle having cut-out portions on the exposed butt end thereof forming a plurality of tabs, a grit surfacing on the upper face of said tabs, and a strip composed of fibrous material similar to. the base of the shingle extending the length of the shingle, said strip being cemented to the shingle along its entire length and being located centrally of the width of the shingle so that said cut-out portions forming the tabs include a part of said fibrous strip, whereby said shingle has increased rigidity along its longitudinal central section including the'upper portion of said tabs, and whereby said fibrous strip also reinforces and strengthens the shingle against tearings at the ,upper ends of the openings forming the 4. A roofing element comprising a strip of saturated fibrous material having slots extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof forming tabs, a raised longitudinal strip disposed cen-.

trally of the width of the said element and extending theleng'th of the latter, the second strip being cemented to the first strip along the entire length of the latter and including the upper portions of'the tabs and having a thickness sufiicient to materially increase the thickness of the element'along the second strip, and a coating of granular material. covering the lower portion of the said element and the exposed portion of the second strip.

5. A roofing shingle comprising a fibrous base impregnated with a water-proofing solution'and adaptedtobe laid in courses in overlapping relation, said shingle having slots extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof forming tabs, a grit-surfacing on the upper exposed face of said tabs, and a coating of adhesive and granular material forming a reinforcing strip extending the length of the shingle and being located approximatelypentrally of the width of the shingle, said strip having a thickness which increases the thickness of the shingle along said strip, and the central disposition of said strip increasing the strength and rigidity of the shingle along the longitudinal central section thereof and which includes the upper portion of said'tabs.

EmIE'I'I' E. VENRICK. 

